Ibadan, 23 October 2026. – Finnish space technology company ICEYE and telecommunications equipment provider Nokia have signed a Letter of Intent with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense to explore cooperation on sovereign satellite communications, potentially giving Kyiv greater control over connectivity supporting its defense operations.
Ukraine explores sovereign satellite communications
The letter was announced on 22 October during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s visit to Ukraine. It builds on a partnership ICEYE and Nokia announced on 1 October to develop secure, sovereign, high-performance broadband satellite communications systems for governments, including defense and emergency services.
Under the broader partnership, the companies plan to integrate satellites, ground infrastructure, and user terminals into broadband systems that participating governments would own and operate. The proposed networks are expected to provide high-throughput, low-latency connectivity over priority operational areas while complementing existing military and commercial networks.
The proposed cooperation comes as Ukraine seeks resilient communications for military operations and other critical activities, particularly when terrestrial networks are disrupted. If implemented, a sovereign system could give the country greater control over its satellite communications infrastructure and reduce its reliance on externally operated services.
The effects of the lack of such control were evident earlier in October when Starlink and Starshield services provided to the Ukrainian military were throttled. The restricted service prevented drone defence systems from working properly.
“Nations need communications they can rely on in every situation,” explained Mikko Hautala, Chief Geopolitical & Government Relations Officer, and Chairman, Nokia Defense. “Satellite networks extend and protect connectivity when networks on the ground are disrupted. This makes them a key part of any secure communications system. Through this Letter of Intent, together with Ukraine and ICEYE, we will explore how trusted, sovereign satellite communications can strengthen Ukraine’s resilience and give it control over the connectivity it depends on.”
The announcement does not specify the proposed system’s architecture, funding, procurement arrangements, or deployment timeline. These details remain to be established as the parties explore the initiative.
ICEYE expands wildfire intelligence through OroraTech partnership
Separately, ICEYE has partnered with German space technology company OroraTech to integrate thermal satellite data with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations for wildfire detection, progression monitoring, and damage assessment. Announced on 22 October, the partnership aims to provide governments, insurers, utilities, and other organizations with a more continuous view of wildfire events, from initial hotspot detection to the assessment of damage to buildings and infrastructure.
The two companies bring complementary observation capabilities to the partnership. OroraTech’s thermal satellite data can identify hotspots and track the progression of active fires, while ICEYE’s SAR satellites can collect observations through cloud cover and darkness, including during active wildfire events. The radar data can also help assess damage to individual buildings before a fire has been fully contained.
By integrating the two data sources, the companies aim to link early fire detection and progression monitoring with assessments of impacts on nearby communities and infrastructure. The resulting intelligence could help emergency managers pre-position resources, refine evacuation priorities, coordinate responses, and identify threats to critical infrastructure.
“The earlier organizations can detect and understand a wildfire, the more time they have to make informed decisions as conditions evolve,” said Dr. Ignacio Zuleta, Chief Technology and Product Officer at OroraTech. “Our thermal satellite intelligence provides that critical visibility from the earliest stages of an event, detecting hotspots and tracking fire activity as it develops. By bringing that intelligence together with ICEYE’s SAR capabilities, we can help decision-makers maintain a more continuous understanding of a wildfire, from first detection through its impact on communities, infrastructure and the surrounding environment.”
The integrated service could support emergency planning, evacuation priorities, utility response, and insurance assessments. It is also aimed at helping authorities substantiate disaster declarations more quickly by combining information on fire progression with damage assessments. According to ICEYE, the approach could also support disaster declarations within 24 hours, rather than weeks.
Sovereign satellite communications and wildfire intelligence
The two partnerships reflect different strands of ICEYE’s business: extending sovereign space capabilities into satellite communications with Nokia and expanding its Earth observation services through integrated wildfire intelligence with OroraTech. While the Ukraine initiative remains at the exploratory stage, the wildfire partnership aims to connect satellite observations to decisions across the emergency response process.
